HUMANISM on SermonAudio

Pastor Don's Books: https://ttwpress.com 2844 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.com

As David's house grows stronger, Abner defects from Ish-bosheth amid political intrigue, while David's own choices expose human sin. Study and transcript: https://sharonrpc.org/devotions/2-samuel-3-1-21-trust-gods-promises-amid-human-failure

This sermon explores the final chapter of Revelation by drawing a parallel between the Garden of Eden and the New Jerusalem, emphasizing that the ultimate blessing of eternity is the direct presence of God rather than the absence of suffering. The exposition highlights the river of life and the tree of life as symbols of eternal security and healing, noting that the barriers to God's presence, such as the cherubim and the temple curtain, have been removed through the work of Christ. The central message asserts that believers will finally see God's face, fulfilling the desire of Moses and the promise of the incarnation, while also restoring the dominion and worship intended for humanity in Genesis. The tone is comforting and encouraging, assuring the audience that the prophecies of Revelation are trustworthy and that the return of Christ is imminent, inviting believers to live with confidence in their secure future with God.

This sermon explores the theological promise that all Israel will be saved, centering on the identity of the Deliverer who will come out of Zion. The speaker connects Romans 11 with numerous Psalms and prophetic books to illustrate that Jesus Christ is the ultimate Deliverer who will return to Jerusalem, specifically standing on the Mount of Olives, to establish His kingdom. The message contrasts the current age of grace, where God does not impute sin, with the future period of judgment and the Great Tribulation, emphasizing that the church is secure in heavenly places while Israel awaits national restoration. A significant portion of the discourse is dedicated to warning against false prophets and self-appointed end-times predictors who have historically failed to correctly identify the timing of Christ's return. The sermon concludes by urging believers to rely solely on the Word of God and the finished work of Christ at Calvary, rather than engaging in speculative date-setting or trusting in human interpretations of signs.

Welcome back to our ongoing exploration of the Hickman edition of Jonathan Edwards, where today we pull back the curtain on the experiential core of the great theologian's revival ministry. Moving beyond his terrifying warning sermons, we synthesize the positive architecture of Edwards's thought—from the direct, soul-transforming beauty of *A Divine and Supernatural Light* and the supreme satisfaction found in *God the Best Portion of the Christian*, to the urgent, lifelong labor of *Pressing Into the Kingdom of God*. Far from teaching human preparationism, Edwards demonstrates how God intentionally uses the awakened sinner's legal strivings, lingering hypocrisies, and accumulated guilt to thoroughly shatter all self-righteousness, stripping the soul of its innate moral pride until, thoroughly humbled in the valley of trouble, it drops every weapon of self-reliance and relies solely upon sovereign, unmerited grace.

The Sunday School lesson explores the doctrine of God's eternal decree as outlined in Chapter 3 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, emphasizing that God sovereignly ordains all that comes to pass according to His wise and holy will. It distinguishes between God's active role in salvation and His passive role in reprobation, clarifying that He is not the author of sin but works through secondary causes to bring about good from evil. The teaching highlights the comfort found in God's unchangeable nature and foreknowledge, contrasting this with the human desire for control and the theological error of middle knowledge. By examining key passages such as Romans 9 and 1 Peter 2, the message asserts that election is solely of grace, while reprobation is a just passing by of those who deserve judgment. The lesson concludes with a pastoral caution to handle these profound truths with humility and care, recognizing the mystery involved in God's unsearchable judgments.

Pastor Don's Books: https://ttwpress.com 2843 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.com

This sermon explores Psalm 13 as a profound expression of the paradox inherent in the Christian life, where human anguish coexists with divine truth. The text moves through three distinct stages, beginning with the desperate question of "how long" God will hide His face, shifting to a plea for spiritual illumination, and culminating in a declaration of trust in God's steadfast love. By referencing Martin Luther and 2 Corinthians, the message illustrates that while believers may feel abandoned or sorrowful, they are never buried by their enemies because their hope is anchored in the unchanging character of God. The sermon affirms that lamentation is a valid human response to suffering, yet it always leads to joy-filled trust when the believer looks beyond their circumstances to the covenant faithfulness of Christ.

The reading outlines five definitive facts regarding salvation found in Romans 8:29-30, emphasizing that God's foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification of believers were established before the foundation of the world. It argues that these acts are entirely dependent on God's sovereign will rather than human effort or circumstance, ensuring the absolute certainty of the believer's eternal security. The message encourages Christians to verify their calling through spiritual evidence such as a hunger for God's Word and the fruit of the Spirit, rather than relying on feelings or external events. By highlighting the past tense of these actions in Scripture, the text presents salvation as a completed work of grace that spans from eternity past to eternity future. The tone is instructional and comforting, urging believers to rejoice in the assurance that their names are written in heaven and that God's purpose for their redemption is unshakeable.

This sermon explores the profound connection between belonging to God's kingdom and the practice of forgiveness, using the parable of the unmerciful servant to illustrate that the demand for forgiveness far exceeds human capacity. The central argument posits that forgiveness is not a work required for salvation but rather the natural indication of having received God's grace, as believers who have had their unpayable spiritual debts canceled are called to extend similar mercy to others. The message distinguishes between forgiveness as a personal, internal act and reconciliation as a relational process that requires repentance, emphasizing that true forgiveness involves a deliberate choice to release resentment. Drawing on the five-step process outlined by scholar Everett Worthington, the sermon provides practical guidance for recalling hurt, empathizing with the offender, and committing to a sustained posture of grace. Ultimately, the tone is both convicting and comforting, urging the congregation to trust in the Holy Spirit's power to heal relationships and transform the church into a community that models the peace and hope of the gospel to the world.